A Mormon mother in Ann Arbor, Michigan has found a suitable method of fasting -- abstaining from nutrition but not calories.
"There's no question about it -- when I'm nursing, I need all the calories I can get," she said as she fed her 9 month old son, pulling a candy wrapper off with her non-dominant hand and teeth. "But I still wanted to make sure I observed the fast somehow!"
Traditionally, Mormons abstain from food for 24 consecutive hours the first Sunday of every month and donate the money they would have spent on food to the poor and needy. Those who are medically unable to do not have to fast, but they are encouraged nonetheless to participate however they can.
"If I were to participate in a traditional fast, I would abstain from calories, Vitamin C, calcium, and riboflavin, among other vitamins and minerals" she continued as she put two attached Twizzlers in her mouth. "Since I'm nursing, I can't abstain from calories, but I can abstain from Vitamin C, calcium, and riboflavin."
"But not necessarily iron," her husband interjected.
"It's only 2% per serving," she shot back. "It would take 50 servings of Twizzlers to achieve the recommended amount!"
Her husband had mixed feelings on how she observes her fast. "At the rate she eats the candy, I'm sure she gets more than enough iron." He wondered aloud if the spirit of the fast, or at least the Word of Wisdom, proscribes such gluttony.
Following a heated response including the cryptic phrase "Moderation in all things," the wife reminded her husband that she is still making a sacrifice to undertake such a fast.
"I'm not even taking my prenatal vitamin that day," she said.
Although she is planning to wean her son in the next six months, she admitted it is tempting to keep this type of fast once she is no longer nursing.
"If it has no nutrients, does it really count as food?" she mused.
"There's no question about it -- when I'm nursing, I need all the calories I can get," she said as she fed her 9 month old son, pulling a candy wrapper off with her non-dominant hand and teeth. "But I still wanted to make sure I observed the fast somehow!"
Traditionally, Mormons abstain from food for 24 consecutive hours the first Sunday of every month and donate the money they would have spent on food to the poor and needy. Those who are medically unable to do not have to fast, but they are encouraged nonetheless to participate however they can.
"If I were to participate in a traditional fast, I would abstain from calories, Vitamin C, calcium, and riboflavin, among other vitamins and minerals" she continued as she put two attached Twizzlers in her mouth. "Since I'm nursing, I can't abstain from calories, but I can abstain from Vitamin C, calcium, and riboflavin."
"But not necessarily iron," her husband interjected.
"It's only 2% per serving," she shot back. "It would take 50 servings of Twizzlers to achieve the recommended amount!"
Her husband had mixed feelings on how she observes her fast. "At the rate she eats the candy, I'm sure she gets more than enough iron." He wondered aloud if the spirit of the fast, or at least the Word of Wisdom, proscribes such gluttony.
Following a heated response including the cryptic phrase "Moderation in all things," the wife reminded her husband that she is still making a sacrifice to undertake such a fast.
"I'm not even taking my prenatal vitamin that day," she said.
Although she is planning to wean her son in the next six months, she admitted it is tempting to keep this type of fast once she is no longer nursing.
"If it has no nutrients, does it really count as food?" she mused.
I'm still laughing. This is wonderful, Kyra.
ReplyDeleteThis is the best thing I've read in a long, long time.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if this is funny or frightening. Well written!
ReplyDeleteThis is hilarious!!
ReplyDelete